NHS Highland urges public to be cautious over Christmas
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Highland health chiefs are urging the public to be cautious over the festive period in order to limit the spread of Covid-19 – and to remember that "this Christmas will be different".
Five five days, from December 23-27, people are allowed to form a Christmas "bubble" of up to three households consisting of no more than eight people. This doesn’t include children under 12.
However, NHS Highland's director of public health, Dr Tim Allison, has warned that the safest approach is to spend Christmas with your own household, in your own home and in your own local area – and keep interaction with other households to a minimum.
The advice is in line with Scottish Government guidance.
“This year has been challenging for everyone and we have all made sacrifices in order to keep our loved ones and our communities safe," Dr Allison said.
“Christmas is traditionally a time when we spend more time with family and friends and, while the rules have been changed slightly to allow more socialisation in order to help reduce loneliness and isolation, it is really important to remember that this Christmas will be different.
“Covid-19 has not gone away and will spread rapidly if given the opportunity. We are asking that everyone thinks about the risks that are involved in increasing the number of people you come into contact with and, if you are meeting people, to please follow the rules to help us in reducing the spread of the virus.”
He said everyone should think carefully about the risks involved in increasing the number of people you have contact with, particularly if you or your loved ones are at a higher risk from coronavirus.
Updated Scottish Government guidance published on the December 16 asks people to:
- Minimise the number of people in a Christmas bubble. While three households is the legal maximum, the recommendation is that two would be better, and you should keep to a maximum of eight people (aged 12 and over).
- Minimise the time spent with your bubble, especially indoors. The five-day period is a window of opportunity, not a recommended time. The recommendation is to not meet up with people in your bubble on any more than one day over the period and do not stay overnight unless it is unavoidable.
- Avoid all travel between high-prevalence and low-prevalence areas – in particular, that means avoiding travel to or from Scotland and tier three areas in England, and to or from any level four areas in Scotland.
People should not go to a pub or restaurant or entertainment venue, for example a cinema or theatre, with their bubble.
Dr Allison added: “The best present you can give your friends and family this year is to help them stay safe and well – and the best way to do that is to stay within your own household. However, if you are joining a Christmas bubble please follow the rules.
“By doing this not only will you protect yourself but you will also protect others, including the most vulnerable in our communities.”
Earlier this month, far north MSP Gail Ross told her constituents that sticking to the rules will be "a sacrifice worth making" this Christmas.
She said the introduction of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine gave hope and reassurance but warned that the process will take time and urged the public to be patient.
Mrs Ross, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “We must all still stay safe until such time as the vaccine is widely rolled out. This process will take some time and I would urge everyone to be patient and stick to the rules.
"The last thing that any of us want to see is another rise in infections before the end of winter. The festive period this year will be very different for many of us, but sticking to the rules and restrictions will be a sacrifice worth making to ensure we protect our vulnerable friends and family.”
